Andosterone derivatives that inhibit AP-1 DNA binding and airway smooth muscle proliferation

摘要

There is described a method for the use of the adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone and certain of its analogs to reduce growth of immortalized and malignant cell lines, according to the following formula: CHEM and CHEM wherein X is halogen, hydroxy, hydrogen, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy; Y is hydrogen or hydroxy; Z is lower alkyl or hydrogen. Dehydroepiandrosterone and its potent analogs 16 alpha -bromo-5-andtosten-17-one, 16 beta -bromo-5-androsten-17-one, 16 alpha -fluoro-5-androsten-17-one, 16 beta -fluoro-5-androsten-17-one, 16 alpha -bromo-5-androstan-17-one, 16 beta -bromo-5-androstan-17-one, 16 alpha -fluoro-5-androstan-17-one and 16 beta -fluoro-5-androstan-17-one impair activation of secondary growth response genes, and thus prove useful for the preparation of medicaments for the treatment of asthmatic airway remodelling in man.